Ore-concentrator.



F. D. MELHUISH.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1909. 944,5 7 Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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ORE OONGBNTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, 1909.

944,567. Patented Dec. 28,1909.

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Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

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ORE GONCENTRATOR.

, APPLIGATION FILED FEB. a, 1909.

ANDREW, a. GRANAM co. PHOYO-LITROBRAFHKRS. WASHINGTON, o. a

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F. DJMELHUISH.

ORE GONGENTRATOR.

AIfPLIGATION FILED fEB. 3, 1909. -Patented D ec. 28

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. MELHUISH, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ORE-CONCENTRATOR.

To alt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK D. MELHUISH, a citizen of the United States,residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, haveinvented certain new and useful lmprovements in Ore-Concentrators;

and I do hereby declare the following to bea full, clear, andexact-description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to ore concentrators, and the object thereof is toproduce a simple apparatus for handling all kinds of crushed ores andcapable of handling in a shorter time and concentrating a greater amountof ore in a given time than any other machine known to me, therebyreducing the cost of the operation.

With this object in view, my invention consists in the construction andcombinations of'parts as hereinafter described and claimed. i

In the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a side view of my invention,parts being omitted and parts broken away, and parts being shown insection. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, lookingdownward. Fig. 3 is'a' top plan view of the carriage for carrying thescrapers. Fig. 4. is'an end view of the same, the carriage guides andoperating rods being shown in section. Fig. 5 is a top planview showingone method of attaching the scraper to the carriage. Figs. 6 and 7 arepartial side views showing details of the stock device, and Fig. 8 is across section. on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

a represents the framework carrying the various parts of the machine. Inthis frame is mounted the rotatable shaft 6, which is verticallydisposed and drives the concentrating table. On the shaft 5 is mounted asleeve '0, carrying a beveled gear wheel d, and on the sleeve 0 ismounted a larger sleeve e, carrying a beveled gear wheel 7. The lowerend of the shaft 6 is enlarged, as shown at g, and is supported on abearing h, anti-friction balls 11 being placed between the parts 9 andh.

To the shaft Z) is firmly fixed a frame j, made substantially conicaland having various branches thereon, as shown, and on this frame ismounted the ore concentrating ta-.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 3, 1909.

Patented Dec. 28, 1909.

Serial No. 475,848.

ble 7a, which is slightly inclined from the center outward. A removablecircular screen we is provided, adapted to fit on the outer edge of thetable, which screen is removed when the scrapers hereinafter describedare put in operation.

a re resents a hopper secured to the lower end 0 the sleeve e, and 0represents a spout for delivering the ore mixed with water into saidhopper. This hopper is provided with a downwardly and inwardlyextendingflange 70, having an opening at its center, and below this flange is acurved dome g, attached by braces r to the interior of the hopper n. Acircular space is left between the outer edge of said dome and the loweredge of said hopper.

The sleeves c and e are so mounted on the shaft 6 as to be independentlyrotatable thereon, and on the sleeve 0, which is longer than the sleeve6, is mounted a receptacle open at the top and bottom, and having anannular flaring lip s at the top, and arms t which connect the loweredge of the receptacle to the sleeve 0. Within this receptacle, andattached to the sleeve 0, is a dome a, which stops short of the innerwall of the receptacle, leaving a circular opening therebetween.

By the construction described, I have found that a perfectly regular andeven flow of material to be concentrated may be obtained.

To the outside of the lower receptacle is attached an arm o, carrying abrush w, which slowly revolves over the surface of the table in adirection opposite to the movement thereof, and assists in theconcentrating action.

The sleeve 6 is driven by a shaft 00, and the sleeve 0- is driven bya-shafty, both of theseshafts being driven by a shaft e, which in turnis driven by the driving shaft 1, provided with a driving pulley 1". Allthese shafts and sleeves are provided with beveled gear wheels meshingwith each other, as shown in Fig. 1. The shaft 6 also drives a shaft 2by means of beveled gear wheels, which shaft in turn drives the shaft3'by means of beveled gear wheels, and this shaft 8 drives the scrapersat intervals by means hereinafter described. Slidably mounted on theshaft 3, but splined thereto is a friction wheel 4, and this wheel canbe raised or lowered at will by the operator by means of a lever 5,pivoted at 6 in an eX tension of the framework.

The raceway for the carriage carrying the scrapers is shown in top planview in Fig. 2. It consists of two L-shaped rails 7 and 8, arrangedparallel to each other, and firmly attached at one end to a portion ofthe framework, and having their inner ends connected by the cross-piece9, which is supported by beams. 10 from the upper part of the framework.011 this raceway travels the carriage carrying the scrapers. As shown inFigs. 2 and 4, this carriage consists of two substantially horizontalportions 11 and 12 Onone end of these horizontal portions are arrangedvertical bearing wheels 13, rotatably mounted in extensions 14,projecting downwardly from the parts '11 and 12.. The parts 11 and 12are firmly connected together by parallel braces 15 and 16 boltedthereto.

Opposite the wheels 13 are arranged horizontal bearing wheels 17,bearing against the vertical part of the rail '8, while the wheels 13bear against the horizontal part of the rail 7.

18 represents a separate piece firmly bolted to the top of the part 11,thus affording a space for the wheel 17, as shown in Fig. 4, andextending outwardly over the rail 8, .as shown at 19 in Figs. 2 and 4,the construction being the same on the part 1-2.

20 represents a guide rod secured at one end to the part 9, and at theother end to the framework of the machine, and the parts 11 and 18 areextended and perforated so as to engage this guide rod, as shown in Fig.4.

21 represents a trio of scrapers carried by said carriage, and arrangeddiagonally in relation thereto. These scrapers are arranged parallel toeach other and their ends These scrapers are so arranged that theytravel from the outer rim of the table on the direct center line to theinner part of the table and at overlap, as shown in Fig. 2.

an angle of not less than 35 to said center line, thereby removing theconcentrates in? much less time than any other device known to me.

carrying a bearing-piece 25.

26 represents arms curving down from the part 11 and made lntegraltherewith, the

construction on both ends of the carriage iron connecting the arms 26.

ets 23, secured to the angle iron 27. of these arms carries a smallanti-friction wheel 28, resting upon the bearing part 25 I By thisconstruction, the scrapers 21 are' limited in their downward movement,but

will yield slightly to obstructions upon the table. This is theconstruction that I prefer, but, of course, the scrapers could becarried rigidly on the arms 26, or similarly arranged parts, if desired.

The carriage is moved back and forth in the following manner: 29represents a screw rod, which engages with screw threaded bearings, suchas 30 in the parts 11 and 12. This rod is supported at one end in abearing 31, mounted on the part 9, and near the other end in a bearing32 on the framework. This rod, however, is arranged to revolve freely insaid bearings, and does not ad- 7 rod 29., but arranged 'to slide freelythereon, I

is a friction disk 33, which is adapted to contact with the frictionwheel 4 on the shaft 3 at times. This disk may be moved back and forthby the clutch lever 34 mounted on an extension in the framework.

It is necessary that the movement of the carriage should beautomatically stopped just before it strikes the braces m in itsmovement in one direction, and before it strikes the framework in itsmovement in the opposite direction, and this automatic stop device isbest shown in Figs. 2, 6, 7 and 8.

35 represents a link pivoted to the clutch lever 34, and guided by abearing 36 on the framework. provided with an elongated disk 37 having along groove on each side, as .shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

38 represents a lever pivotally mounted on the frame of the machine, andprovided with a pin 39 projecting into one of the grooves in the disk37. To the upper end of this lever is attached a link 40, the other endof which is attached to the lever 41, pivoted at At the other end, thislink is 7 42, on the rail 8, and having an enlarged spring '52. beingthe same, and 27 represents an angle The part 19 of the movable carriageis adapted to strike against the enlarged heads The scrapers 21 are eachsupported on a E pair of arms 22, pivotally mounted in brack- I Each 43and 49, above referred to, and when it does strike either one of theseheads it will operate the clutch lever 34, moving the friction disk 33out of contact with the friction wheel 4, thereby stopping the movementof the carriage.

As stated before, the friction wheel 4 is slidably mounted upon theshaft 3. By means, therefore, of the lever 5, the speed of operation ofthe disk 33, and thereby of the screw-rod 29, may be varied, as desired,or may be reversed by moving said wheel 4 below or above the center ofthe disk 33;

The operation is as follows :The lever 5 is first moved so as todisengage the wheel a from the disk 33, thus throwing the scrapercarrying carriage out of operation. The ore to be concentrated, mixedwith water, is fed in through the chute -0, and is delivered in an evenstream upon the concentrat ng table, the screen an having beenpreviously placed around the edge of said table. The centrifugal force,aided by the brush to, causes a concentration of the ore, the lighterparticles and water escaping through the holes in the screen m. When theoperator judges that the concentration has been sufliciently effected,he removes the screen m, and throws the friction wheel at into contactwith the friction disk 33, thus causing the scrapers to travel, at adefinite rate of speed, from the position shown in Fig. 1 toward thecenter of the table, which is all the time revolving. This causes theconcentrates to be quickly and evenly scraped from the table into asuitable receptacle (not shown). The carriage moves forward toward thecenter of the table until the part 19 strikes the part 49 when themotion is automatically stopped as the friction disk 33 is disengagedfrom the friction wheel 4:. The operator then shifts the friction wheel4: down beyond the center of the friction disk 33 and moves said diskback into contact with the friction wheel 4, whereupon the carriagetravels back until the part 19 strikes the part 43, whereupon thebackward motion is automatically stopped. The screen m is then put backaround the table, and the operation repeated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is v 1. In an oreconcentrator, the combination of a table, a plurality of parallelscrapers set at a sharp angle to a radius of the table, and means forcontinuously moving said scrapers back and forth over said table andradially thereto, substantially as described.

2. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a table, having asubstantially flat surface, a plurality of parallel scrapers set at asharp angle to a radius of the table, a carriage on which said scrapersare carried, said carriage being provided with anti-friction wheels, aframe supporting said carriage, and means for continuously moving saidcarriage back and forth over the surface of said table and radiallythereto, substantially as described.

3. In an ore concentrator, the combination of a table, a carriage, aplurality of parallel scrapers carried by said carriage, said scrapershaving their ends over-lapping and arranged at a sharp angle to a radiusof the table, said carriage being provided with roller bearings, a framesupporting said bearings, means for continuously moving said carriageback and forth on said frame on the line of'a radius of said table, andmeans for automatically stopping the movement of said carriage at apredetermined point, substantially as described.

4. I11 an ore concentrator, the combination of a table, a carriagearranged to travel in the direct center line from the circumference ofsaid table toward and away from its center, and provided with aplurality of scrapers diagonally mounted thereon, said scrapers beingparallel to each other and having their ends over-lapping, and means formoving said carriage, including a screw-shaft arranged radially withrelation to said table, a friction wheel mounted on said screw-shaft, afriction disk adapted to engage said friction wheel, means for movingsaid disk into different positions relatively to said friction wheel,and means for automatically stopping the travel of said carriage at apredetermined limit in either direction, substantially as described.

5. In an ore concentrator, the combinationof a table, a plurality ofparallel, diagonallyarranged scrapers, a carriage to which said scrapersare pivotally attached, said carriage being provided with rollerbearings, a frame comprising L-shaped bars supporting said carriage,means for moving said carriage radially over the surface of said table,and automatic trips and levers against which said carriage is adapted tostrike as it moves, to automatically stop its movement in eitherdirection at a predetermined limit, substantially as described.

6. 111 an ore concentrator, the combination of a supporting frame, atable rotatably mounted therein, means for rotating said table, anindependent angle iron frame supported by said first-named frame andextending thereover to a point nearly to the center of the table, andradially to said table, a carriage provided with roller bearings,mounted on said independent frame, a plurality of parallel,diagonally-arranged scrapers pivotally mounted on said carriage, ascrewshaft rotatably mounted in said frames and engaging said carriage, meansfor rotating said screw-shaft and automatic means for stopping themotion of said screw-shaft at a predetermined point, substantially asdescribed.

7 In an ore concentrator, the combination of a supporting frame, arotatable table carried thereby, a carriage carrying a plurality ofdiagonallyarranged scrapers, a screw-shaft for driving said carriage andgearing for rotating said table and driving said shaft, including ashaft with a slidable friction Wheel mounted thereon, a friction withsaid Wheel at a predetermined point in the movement of said carriage ineither direction, substantially as described.

8. In an ore concent ator, the combination of a table, a shaft on whichsaid table is mounted, means for rotating said shaft, a sleevesurrounding said shaft, a distributing receptacle attached to saidsleeve and located centrally over said table, a second sleeve mounted onsaid first-named sleeve, ahopper provided with a dome mounted on saidsecond-named sleeve, and means for revolving said sleeves in differentdirections and for revolving said shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

FRANK D. MELHUISH. Witnesses E. WV. BORN, J. S. HOFFMAN.

